Companies are being ‘introspective’ about sustainability reporting

Newly published research indicates that businesses in the UK are being too ‘introspective’ in their sustainability reporting, reports energy saving technology experts EcoAdapt (http://www.ecoadapt.co.uk).

The 2012 Tomorrow’s Value Research (TVR) report commissioned by research consultancy DNV Two Tomorrows found that companies are approaching sustainability reporting as an ‘obligatory box-ticking exercise demanded by stakeholders’ and rather than looking at the bigger picture, are being too introspective about sustainability measures and associated reporting. According to the research, businesses are looking at energy efficiency and sustainability through the prism of only those issues they can directly control themselves. Instead, they should be taking a step back and assessing their sustainability within a wider, global framework.

It was Dr Todd Cort, director of the 2012 TVR who claimed that companies are being ‘introspective’ about sustainability reporting, something he says is having a negative impact on global environmental efforts, as well as being detrimental to company shareholders. He says, “The result is corporate sustainability reports that paint legitimate pictures of success in sustainability, but a global reality where we are far from achieving solutions...Sustainability reporting should instead be an opportunity to drive continuous improvement toward the big challenges that we face as a society”.

UK businesses may balk at the opinion that they should be facing big societal challenges at a time when most are facing their own struggles in an economy which is only now showing small signs of improvement. However, when it comes to energy efficiency and sustainability there are key ways in which businesses can take internal steps which, far from being introspective, actually help to make global strides for the environment. Steps such as installing voltage optimisation equipment, which helps to reduce electric costs internally while aiding carbon reduction on a wider scale. Find out more at the EcoAdapt website at http://www.ecoadapt.co.uk.